February
12
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So Many Books, So Little Time: Tips for Reading Strategically by Donalyn Miller
We own too many books. I’ve confessed this before, and it surprises no one. Don and I spend too much time sorting, culling, dusting, moving, and shelving books. Without constant maintenance, our book collection would take over our lives and home. We have tried to control our book hoarding tendencies, but it’s a losing battle. We use our library cards. We download audio books. We continuously give away books, but more appear. We don’t apologize anymore. We live in a house with too many books and we accept it. Don and I fell in love with reading as children, but we owned few books of our own until we became adults. We can measure our path to prosperity in bookshelves. Our daughters grew up in a home filled with love and books and we will grow old here–happily sifting our book treasure.
We read most of the books we bring home, but not all. Some books, once purchased or borrowed, float to the bottom of our to-read piles for months, if not years. We rediscover these lost books when cleaning the garage or dusting a corner, and these forgotten ones have a second (or third) chance to migrate into current stacks.
When you own a lot of books, they demand actions from you. The unread ones glare at you, neglected. Shiny new ones distract you and move to the top of your to-read stack. Books you need to mail swarm on your desk. You visit the library three times in one week. Boxes arrive. Piles form. It’s overwhelming and glorious in turn.
At this life stage, I have given up reading all of the books I own. I think it’s OK to own books you haven’t read (space limitations aside). There’s something comforting about knowing you have the right book in your house for any occasion or need. More than a few books leave our home pressed into the resigned hands of family members and friends who expressed a random interest or concern. We have a book for that. Whatever “that” is. I have found peace in my book obsession these days. I read every day. I challenge myself to read 365 books each year, and I meet or exceed this goal. This doesn’t scratch the surface of the books I want to read. I have learned to read selectively, so I can continue expanding my book knowledge while enjoying my reading life as much as possible. Recognizing time and energy as the sole limits on my reading habits, I have developed some strategies for maximizing my attention and efforts.
Tips for Reading Strategically
- Accept your inability to read everything you want. There are thousands of books published every year. You cannot possibly read every book that looks interesting to you. You are going to miss some great books. You are going to read some amazing books, too. Enjoy your reading life and set aside your FOMO (fear of missing out).
- Abandon books that are not working for you. Life is short. There is always another book. Don’t waste your limited reading time and mental energy reading books you don’t enjoy. What do you need from a book? How long will you read a book before deciding not to finish? What do you notice about the books you abandon? What do you notice about the books you finish? Set personal guidelines and feel free to ditch a book if it doesn’t meet your needs. Embrace abandoning series, too. You are not required to finish a series just because you start one. You do not have to read every Animorphs book or The Series of Unfortunate Events in order to recommend them to other readers. If you’re enjoying reading an entire series run, go right ahead. Binge reading a series has its own pleasures, but don’t feel you have to slog through every book if you’re no longer invested.
- Expand your book knowledge with reviews, blogs, and award lists. With limited money to purchase books and limited time to read them, you want to spend your resources wisely. Reading review publications like Horn Book, School Library Journal, Booklist, and others provides high-quality background information on thousands of books. You can fine-tune your to-read piles and research books you haven’t read, yet. Check your public library network or ask your school librarian about book review publications or resources. Which books earn good reviews or appear in social media conversations? Which books seem like a good fit for your students? Which books fill a need in your community? While you can’t read every blog and book review site, find a few that offer credible, comprehensive, easy-to-access information. I highly recommend We Need Diverse Books’ website (don’t miss the Tumblr) and John Schu’s Watch. Connect. Read. blog as places to start. Study award lists like the ALA Youth Media Awards and the Nerdy Book Club Awards. Which titles appear on more than one award list? Who are the authors and illustrators creating exemplary books? Researching artists and their books broadens your working knowledge of what’s available for children to read and the current trends and issues in children’s publishing. You don’t have to read every book to stay on top of ongoing conversations.
- Take recommendations. When a new book enters our house, it rapidly assimilates into our existing book hoard. Books shift from the bottom to the top of my to-read pile based on whim, urgency to read a particular book, and recommendations from trusted readers. A book may sit unread for months, but when a friend recommends it, I will often dig it out and prioritize it. Take recommendations from your students, too. When you see five middle-schoolers passing the same book around, you can assume the book has high-interest for readers their age. Find out why. Besides, when you take recommendations from other readers, you reinforce your reciprocal relationship as readers in the same reading community. You have something to offer and so do they.
- Alternate book lengths. Intimidated by the 500-page epic fantasy tome on your shelf? Pick a shorter book. Your reading stamina flags? Pick a shorter book. You haven’t finished a book in a month? Pick a shorter book. Making pace through a book quickly fills you with accomplishment and keeps your reading momentum going when you cannot make a long-term commitment to a lengthy book right now.
- Read representative titles. You don’t have to read every Gary Paulsen book to discuss his work or recommend it to others. Read noteworthy examples across his range, including fiction adventures like Hatchet, nonfiction memoirs like My Life in Dog Years, and historical fiction like Nightjohn. Which books appeal to a wide range of readers? Which books reflect an author’s style or writing craft? What makes an exemplary graphic novel? Reading representative classics, award-winners, and favorites across genres and formats shapes your criteria for determining exemplar texts and keeps your reading life interesting by exposing you to new genres, formats, writing styles, and information.
- Read with your ears. Do you listen to music or podcasts while exercising or working? Do you have a long commute or spend time traveling? Downloading a few audiobooks to your phone or device provides boredom insurance and opportunities to squeeze in a few more books. Ask your public library about their audiobook databases. Search Audible by narrator when you find an enjoyable performer and research noteworthy audio productions from the Odyssey and Audie award lists.
- Put yourself first from time-to-time. No matter the demands on your book knowledge from your students and reading communities, read some books for yourself. Your entire reading life doesn’t have to fulfill some outside purpose. Read that detective thriller or bodice-ripping romance novel. Research your fascination with climate change or Italian cooking. Reread beloved favorites. You are more likely to engage others with reading when your reading life is personally fulfilling and enjoyable.
Most of all, does your reading life fill your current reading needs? What do you want to read and why? What questions do you have? How are you continuing to grow as a reader? What gaps do you see in your reading diet? What strategies can you employ to reach these personal reading goals? How can you manage your limited resources and your desire to read? I look forward to reading your comments and suggestions.
Donalyn Miller has taught fourth, fifth, and sixth grade English and Social Studies in Northeast Texas. She is the author of two books about encouraging students to read, The Book Whisperer (Jossey-Bass, 2009) and Reading in the Wild (Jossey-Bass, 2013). Donalyn co-hosts the monthly Twitter chat, #titletalk (with Nerdy Book Club co-founder, Colby Sharp). Donalyn launched the annual Twitter summer and holiday reading initiative, #bookaday. You can find her on Twitter at @donalynbooks or under a pile of books somewhere, happily reading.
Nerdy Book Club 
I wish I was a ‘better’ reader and could read more than I do. I often feel I fall short and there are SO MANY BOOKS I want to get to. But I do need to give myself a break because much of my work involves reading and so often in my time off, I feel like being mindlessly entertained. Not to mention, I am a notoriously slow reader. I do listen to audio books while on the treadmill or while walking the dog, so that helps. I like your suggestion of alternating lengths and find I do also alternate genres to keep things fresh.
Thanks for the perspective, Donalyn!
Accepting who we are as readers and relieving ourselves from the need to keep up with others is part of our reading identity development, IMHO.
👌😎😁
Spot on! I would add, “Allow yourself the delight of rereading favorites.” I’ve actually had people tell me that this is a waste of time. It may be for them, but for many people it’s as satisfying as lingering over coffee with lifelong friends!
Agree! It is always nice to go back to the favorite books and warm your heart 😊❤
Wisdom.
I am glad you found the post meaningful!
Great list of suggestions! It took me a long time to feel ok about giving up on a book that just wasn’t doing it for me.
I was a much happier reader when I realized it’s a good thing to be a quitter if a book is not pleasing me. There are too many other great books waiting!
I think when a book is not working for you but you are still curious about how it turns out, it’s okay to skim. Didn’t think I’d ever hear myself say that but after doing it a few times, I say, why not?
Oooh, I’ve recently realized this too!
Eek! That goes against everything I’ve ever said/thought about finishing books . . . that being said, I think I will add that to my repertoire! Thanks for the suggestion!
I would add, “Read multiple titles at the same time,” although I’m sure many avid readers do this already. I usually have 3-4 titles going at a time I can bounce back and forth from. My students think I’d read more if I just stuck to one a time though.
Great list and awesome post! Especially since some might be feeling inadequate after Newbery season and not getting to near as many titles as we’d have liked to!
I usually have several books going at the same time, too. I have found that I need to pick books from different genres and reading purposes when I do or I don’t enjoy the books as much.
Establish a Little Free Library and you will have an easy way to give away the books that you finish!
I think most of us are (initially) blown away by the idea of not finishing a book we don’t enjoy. I suspect it’s a carry over from school where there was no choice but to read whatever book was assigned. I reserve books almost every day when I read someone’s comments about their latest find. Some I read, but I don’t feel bad about returning unread snoozer books. I love audio books. 🙂
I think any home filled with books is a beautiful home 🙂
Me, too. Anna Quindlen said it best, “I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.”
Well that is my dream home too, a house filled with book shelves.
Love this. You are absolutely describing my house. I too have given in. The hardest thing for me was to learn that I don’t have to finish every book I start. I have a compulsive need to finish things all things once I start.
I love the reread comment. I have a few favorite books or authors that I re read each year. I also am working to find good homes for books I have collected. I also swap books from Little Free Libraries. I take and one add one as I walk the neighborhood. Happy Reading
You could have been describing my house!
How do you find the time to read 365 or more books a year?
I read a lot of children’s literature in the mix, which takes less time. I also travel 1/3 of the year and read on planes and in airports.
I have three stacks of books at home: general fiction, “be a better person”, and kids books (note that there are books that fit into all three stacks). I have them stacked on my bookshelf in the order that I want to read them.
I used to be the type of reader who, before reading the next book in a series, needed to reread the other books in the series. This was especially fun during my Harry Potter days (read:college). It isn’t so much a possibility now, so I do my best.
I have a ton of books that I reread over and over again. It’s a comfort.
I’m trying to expand my repertoire of titles. When I need an escape, there is nothing better than a light-hearted romance novel, which will make me happy and forget about life for a while.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to reflect on myself as a reader. I set my goal of 60 this year, and am already 7 in in February.
I like to try for some balance between books I think my 4th graders would love, professional bks, and bks for my own pleasure. The kids books usually win out!!!
Definitely a lot of great advice for those who are a bit addicted to books, but end up with more than we can ever hope to read.
I know that for me it has been helpful to alternate between different genres in order to maintain focus and keep the thrill if you will. I also keep a list of each book I complete throughout the year, which also helps me making reading a priority. There’s something about seeing that list grow each month that brings a level of satisfaction and accomplishment. But it also helps me identify different trends in my reading habits, and I am more apt to recognize if I need to change up what types of books I am reading to keep things fresh.
I am so grateful for goodreads, which helps me keep lists of what I have read and identify trends and gaps in my reading habits. Alternating genres is a great idea to keep your reading life fresh is a great suggestion.
Oh my, the abandon concept is SO hard. I know there are entire posts on this concept alone waiting to be written by many of us. That being said, I have no problem not reading an entire series and hadn’t thought of it as abandoning the series. Perhaps the mindshift will help me abandon books that aren’t working for me. (And am I the only one who has a hard time abandoning a book, but encourages others to ditch what doesn’t work for them?)
Great read. I used to be bookworm and turned to be an article worm:) Too little time and too many facts, knowledge and wisdom to learn!
Thank you; as always, your ideas are insightful and reassuring.
I loved this! I often feel sad because I know I will never be able to read all the books I want to read. This was really helpful (Also you are mighty impressive with 365 books a year, kudos to you).
My goal is to start doing the audio book to and from work. The narrator makes all the difference. Any recommendations?
365 books a year! That’s amazing. How long did it take for you to get to that point?
I have just finished reading a book that half way through I thought.. why am I reading this? I always feel like once I start, I have to finish! How do you get rid of this feeling? I’m new here and just starting a blog, hoping to review books and give and receive recommendations for new books. I’m @bitsandbookss come check it out. Thanks in advance.
This is my downfall too – I always need to finish the book!
“When you own a lot of books, they demand actions from you. The unread ones glare at you, neglected. Shiny new ones distract you and move to the top of your to-read stack.”
Wow- I love this thought. So many interesting points as well. I can’t quite imagine 365 books in a year, you’re an inspiration. So how long do you give a book before you reject it?
Thanks for sharing.
Lauren
I usually give a book 50 pages or so before abandoning it–unless it’s immediately dreadful.
I plan to have a bookmark in every book I own. 🙂
Great words of wisdom!
I always get FOMO, especially when it comes to reading! A really great post, thanks for sharing!
Wowie! Amazing post!
Personally, as an avid reader who chooses curling up every morning, day, and night with a book rather than facing up to reality, my apartment has become an utter flood of books to the point that even walking has become a patchy maze through book piles. As for recommendations, Goodreads has become my personal best friend. I like to check out what my buddies are talking about and what seems “trendy” in the book world and then buy books based on what others say about them. I try not to pick up a book based on covers and what the title says (as hard as that is) because I’m not sure if we can really say a front image or 3-5 word title can be seen as representative of a 500 page book.
This blog was all i needed! It has been 4 months and i didn’t got a chance to read.. Which is my favorite activity. Also i didn’t got time to update my blog which created recently. I would start reading from today😀. Thank you for sharing!
I feel guilty when I don’t read a book that I have. I also buy many books from the same author but most of the time the author’s other books aren’t that good like the previous one. Thanks for this post. Really appreciate it.
I actually have another tip for reading strategically. I call it the 100-Rule because I find that if a book doesn’t pick up by page 100, you’re safe to put it down, but I always give books at least 100 pages to begin the action of the 2nd act. I actually wrote a post about it on my own blog.
This post is super helpful. My TBR pile is generally a big one and the pointers here definitely help me with prioritizing. So Thank You!!!
This was super helpful! I just recently started listening to audio books, and they are so much fun! It is such a new and fascinating way to experience a book! Thanks for the advice!
Great post! I used to want to finish books no matter how bad they were especially with books that I’ve heard a lot of people talk about. Later I found I’d rather use that time to read something I actually like no matter what people say about it.
Nice post! I’ve been looking for something like this. I honestly get so overwhelmed by my reading targets sometimes. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Reblogged this on Notes from An Alien and commented:
You can answer these questions in today’s re-blog:
does your reading life fill your current reading needs?
What do you want to read and why?
What questions do you have?
How are you continuing to grow as a reader?
What gaps do you see in your reading diet?
What strategies can you employ to reach these personal reading goals?
How can you manage your limited resources and your desire to read?
It’s awesome that you talked about the importance of reading the book that makes you interested to prevent boredom. My sister said to me last night that she is thinking about getting a book for my nephew because he enjoys reading and asked if I had any suggestions. Thanks to this helpful article, I’ll be sure to tell her that she should consider purchasing Learning to Read books to aid my nephew’s reading abilities.
Thank you for the advice 😊 I feel guilty when I can’t read all the books I have around in my house! I have to accept that it’s not possible to read everything. It’s good to know I’m not alone in my crazy book addiction.